LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to support H.R. 1194, the Federal Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act
2009

WHEREAS, The members of this Legislative Body from the State of New York
acknowledge the publication of the original study and comprehensive list
of recommendations in America Burning, written in 1974; to date,
advances in fire prevention through the installation of automatic fire
sprinkler systems in existing buildings have yet to be fully imple-
mented; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments across the country responded to approximate-
ly 1,452,500 fires in 2008; and
WHEREAS, There were 3,430 civilian deaths and 17,675 civilian injuries
resulting from fire in the United States in 2008; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, there were 114 firefighters killed in the line of
duty and fire caused $15,478,000,000 in direct property damage; and
WHEREAS, Fire sprinklers are responsible for a 70% reduction in prop-
erty damage from fires in public assembly, educational, residential,
commercial, industrial and manufacturing buildings; and
WHEREAS, The National Fire Protection Association has no record of
fire killing more than two people in a completely sprinklered public
assembly, educational, institutional or residential building where the
system was properly installed and fully operational; and
WHEREAS, The financial cost of upgrading fire prevention measures in
buildings built prior to modern safety codes is prohibitive to most
property owners; and
WHEREAS, Under the present straight line method of depreciation, there
is a disincentive for building safety improvements due to an extremely
low rate of return on investment; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes that the Nation is in need
of an incentive for building owners to voluntarily install or retrofit
buildings with automatic fire sprinkler systems, and such incentives
would reduce the tax depreciation time on nonresidential property from
39 years to 5 years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to support
H.R. 1194, the Federal Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act 2009; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.